System and method for locating a catheter tip

Abstract

A system for locating the tip of a catheter inside a human body is provided. The system includes a sound sensor for sensing the magnitude wave form generated by sound pressure as a PICC is progressed toward a heart of a patient. The systems also includes a monitor operably coupled to the sensor for measuring the magnitude of wave form generated by the sound sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a catheter comprising a catheter tip; 
 at least one acoustic emitter to be positioned on a body of a patient, the at least one acoustic emitter to generate at least one acoustic beacon signal; 
 a sound sensor operably coupled to the catheter, the sound sensor to detect a sound generated by a heart of the patient as the catheter tip is advanced toward the heart of the patient and to detect the at least one acoustic beacon signal; and 
 a display unit operably coupled to the sound sensor; wherein the display unit is configured to graphically display a change in the sound generated by the heart and sensed by the sound sensor. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a housing for housing the sound sensor. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2  wherein said housing contains saline for propagating the sound generated by the heart. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2  wherein the catheter further comprises a saline column and the sound sensor is positioned on the saline column. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4  wherein said housing is positioned on the saline column of the catheter. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  wherein the display unit further comprises a visual indicator to indicate a status of the catheter tip progression. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  wherein the visual indicator comprises any of the following: an alphabetic character, an X, a downward arrow, a forward arrow, or a null-symbol. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1  wherein the sound sensor is positioned on the catheter tip. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1  wherein the sound sensor comprises a microphone. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1  wherein the display unit is configured to graphically display a change in the at least one acoustic beacon signal detected by the sound sensor. 
     
     
       11. A system comprising:
 a catheter comprising a tip; 
 at least one acoustic emitter to be positioned on a body of a patient, the at least one acoustic emitter to generates at least one acoustic beacon signal; 
 a sensor operably connected to the catheter and configured to sense a change in a magnitude of the wave form as the catheter tip is advanced toward a heart of the patient and to sense the at least one acoustic beacon signal; and 
 a display unit operably connected to the sensor; wherein the display unit is configured to graphically display the change of the magnitude of a wave form sensed by the sensor. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one acoustic emitter comprises at least three acoustic emitters. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a housing for housing the sensor; and wherein the catheter further comprises a saline column; and the housing is located on the saline column. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor is located on the catheter. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is located on the catheter tip. 
     
     
       17. A system comprising:
 at least one acoustic emitter configured to be positioned over a heart on a body of a patient, the at least one acoustic emitter configured to generate at least one acoustic beacon signal; 
 a sensor capable of being operably coupled to a catheter and configured to detect a change in a sound pressure as the catheter is advanced toward the heart and detect the at least one acoustic beacon signal; and 
 a monitoring means operably coupled to the sensor; wherein the monitoring means is configured to graphically display a change in the sound pressure detected by the sensor and graphically display a change in the at least one acoustic beacon signal detected by the sensor. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the sound pressure generates in part a magnitude of a wave form. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the monitoring means further comprises a visual indicator configured to indicate a change in the magnitude of the wave form. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the visual indicator is configured to depict an increase in the magnitude of the wave form that indicates to a user the catheter is advancing toward the heart; or wherein the visual indicator is configured to depict a decrease in the magnitude of the wave form that indicates to a user the catheter is advancing toward a non-target area or is obstructed.